New strategic tunnel named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The government on Wednesday has approved to name the strategic tunnel under Rohtang pass after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. The foundation stone for the 8.8 kilometer long tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002 only when in he proposed for the tunnel in the 2000.

The Government has decided to honor the contribution of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by naming the strategic tunnel under Rohtang Pass after him on December 25,” the defense ministry said.

The tunnel is said to be worlds longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 meters. The tunnel is now nearing completion and is a step in the direction of providing all weather connectivity to remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh which otherwise remained cut off from the rest of the world for about six months during winters.